Replacement bushing assembly



Feb'. 10, 1953 T.c. 'GERNER REPLACEMENT BusHING ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheetv l m om Filed Dec. 30, 1946 r ro.

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B, wm aca/Wawy Hmm T. C. GERNER REPLACEMENT BUSHING ASSEMBLY Feb. l0, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 30, 1946 Ill Il' Ill ////////////Jmf/// I 11 l 'e/ltar Theodore O. Gerner Feb. 10, 1953 T. c. 'G-ERNER REPLACEMENT BusHING ASSEMBLY s sheets-Sheet s Filed Dec. 30, 1946 .mllllll Im/elltor Theodore 0. Garner Patented Feb. 10, 1953 AUiNlIiED S S PAT 2,627,732

' narpaosivmn'r BUSHING ASSEMBLY Theodore O Garner, :Oklahoma City, .Okla

.Application December 30, 1946, SerialNoflQlS 2 Claims.

This invention comprises .novel and Vuseful improvements in 1a ,replacement bushing =assembly and more speciiically pertains to the Areplacement sleeve or bushing for -renewing the worn bearing suriaees and is particularly chartterzed by a highly eicient retaining vmeans permitting ready insertion of the replacement unit or upon a worn bearing surface without necessitating prior machine treatment of said worn surfaceand 'by an improved bearing engagement for journaling the shaft or member carried .by the worn bearing surface.

This invention :pertains `broadly 'to the repair of vbearings and journals and is not limited to any particular type of bearing or use thereof, but Ysome aspects thereof constitutes an irnprovement upon my vprior Patents gNo. 2,403,520 issued July `9, 1946 and No. 2,405,541 issued August 6, 1946.

The fundamental vobject of this invention is vto provide a replaceable Ibushing assembly -for restoring Worn bearings to their original utility or to van improved effectiveness.

A Very important object of the invention resides in Vproviding in a bushing assembly ofthe character set forth above, highly efcient means for retaining the replacement unit `in the worn bearing without necessitating any preliminary machine treatment of the worn bearing.

Another vvery important purpose of the invention resides in providing a bushing assembly in accordance with the Aforegoing objects, which may be quickly and easily installed, with -a minimum expenditure of time and labor and is ideally adapted for 'installation by unskilled labor.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a replacement assemblyin accordance with the aforementioned objects and which may be utilized to produce a greatly improved anti-friction bearing between the original worn bearing and the member ournaled thereby.

Still another important object vof the invention is .to eiect a repair or restoration of worn bearings in accordance with .the above set lforth objects, which is an inexpensive construction, is .-so `designed as to be readily modiied lto iit the varying requirements of variegated uses of bearings, is durable and dependable in its use, .and may vbe rapidly ,and economically .manufactured upon conventional industrial machines and by conventional methods.

These, together with `various lancillary .Objects of the invention which will later ,become .apparent Vas the following .description proceeds, are realized by this invention, various. embodiments 2 of which have "been `illustrated `in the accompanying drawings, -by -way vvof -example only, and wherein:

Figure 1 Ais a Ylongitudinal sectional view showing vthe invention applied to a drive shaft bushing assembly Lin accordance with my prior iPatent 1No. 2,403,520; f

Figure l2 Ais an elevational lview of one storm of replacement bushing which may sbe employed in the assembly of vFigure 1j.;

Figure i3 is an enlarged detail-view'of -a portion of Figure V1, showing Tmore clearly one jform fof novel fastening means in accordance with this invention;

Figure '4 a longitudinal sectional `-yiew showing the .application olf the principles fof-@this invention to the Apropeller shaft housing repair unit of myrrior Patent iNO. 2,405,541-:0f August 6, 1946;

Figure r5 `-is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal Vsection, illustrating ithe principles of the invention applied `,to -a -repair bushing of general application;

Figure 6 is a detail view in vertical ,longitudinal section, illustrating a modiiied application of the lfastening means of l'the invention '-or attaching a bushing to a worn bearing surface;

Figure v7 is -a-vievv similar te Figure 6 but showine Vanother rwdied farm O f fastening ineens.:

wFigure -8 is an end Iview 'of a lslight mod-incatlon of Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is 'a 'fragmenten' detailyew in longitudina1Secti0n.,-Sh0wing in an exaggeratedmanner --a modified construction of 'fastening -rneans for Athe 'bush-ings; v

Figure l10 l-is a `Rview similar tto *Eigiire -4 `but showing a further modification of `-i-he invention of my prior Patent ',-No. 12,405,541 :in laccordamne with another principle o f this invention;

Figure -11 is -a vertical 4sectional view ltaken substantially upon the section line lI-Il yof vFigure 10; vand Figure v12 is a fragmentary sectional view signilar to 'Figure 10 but showing a further modification of the principles of kthe invention.

In repairing Worn bushings or bearings in accordance with previous conventional practice, it 'has Aheretofore lbeen necessary '-to either remove the wor-n 1bearing if vemployed -in Ithe form ac f a detachable Ebearing insert, -or to drill out the Vrvorn Vbearing t0 a predete ltltiined website and either 'insert a 'blushing therein or ramasse 'the Conventional member iournaled hearing with ,an .over-.Size member in accordance with the enlarged diameter thereolf. Where a .re-

placeable bearing insert has been removed for inserting a new bearing, it has usually been found necessary to ream out or machine the new bearing to the desired diameter in order to remove the deformation usually accompanying the forcible insertion of the bearing replacement unit into the Worn bearing.

In practically all cases, it has been necessary to expend considerable time and require the use of special tools or machines for restoring the Worn bearing to its original eectiveness, and often this restoration of the bearing surfaces was attended by a protracted period of idleness of the machine in order to effect the more or less expensive repairs and replacements. The direct attachment of a replacement bushing or sleeve to the Worn bearing surface in order to quickly and chiefly effect a repair thereof, has heretofore been unsuccessful because of the difculty of securing a satisfactory seating engagement or fastening engagement vof the replacement unit upon and throughout the unevenly Worn surface.

These difficulties have been overcome by applying deformable ridges or protuberances upon the surface of a repair unit whereby the latter may be forcibly applied to a worn bearing surface, these deformable ridges being so proportioned as to readily shear over or conform to the irregularities of the worn bearing surface While their unsheared portions form and provide a tight and snug-fitting engagement therewith. Attention is now directed rst to the basic principles of applying this principle as exhibited in Figures 5-9.

It should be noted that although the preferred use of the invention is with cylindrical bushings and bearings replacements, the many features of the invention as set forth in the following specilication and illustrated in the drawings, are not limited thereto but may readily be applied to various shapes of bushings and even upon members Which have integral bearings in or upon their surfaces.

As shownin Figure 5, a bushing or sleeve IB is provided upon its internal and or external sur faces with aplurality of ridges l2 and i4, re spectively, theseridges extending throughout any portion of the length of the sleeve or if desired throughout various longitudinally spaced zones thereon. If desired, these ridges or protuberances may be formed by merely grooving the internal or external surface of the sleeve, or by forming portions of enlarged or reduced diameters thereon or therein and providing the ridges upon thesurfaces of these portions.

These deformable ridges are preferably out directly into the surface or material of the sleeve I6, but may of course be readily applied thereto in the form of detachable inserts therein or thereon.

As shown at IS in Figure 5, a portion of the external surface of the sleeve l is of enlarged diameter, and is provided with a plurality of ridges I4 which ridges as clearly shown, are of a diameter extending beyond and greater than that of the cylindrical surface of the member it.

The deformable ridges as shown in the arrangement. of Figure 5, Whether interior or exterior of the sleeve i0 are adapted to longitudinally slide upon or Within a Worn bearing surface which it is desired to restore to normal condition and the appropriate ridges l2 or I4 which are shown as extending circumferentially about the surfaces of the replacement sleeve will -be'deformed by relative longitudinalv movement of the sleeve upon the Worn bearing surface. As shown by the ernbodiments of Figures 6 and 7, the deformable ridges may conveniently be disposed as spiral projections I3 upon either the interior or exterior surface of the sleeve as desired, or may be even longitudinally disposed as at 20 in Figures '7 and 8. As shown best at 22 in Figure 8, the interior surface of the sleeve I9 may be provided with a zone of smaller internal diameter than the rest of the sleeve, upon which zone, or if desired a plurality of longitudinally spaced zones, the deformable ridges 20 are cut.

It will be readily apparent that the deformable elements need not necessarily be in the form of continuous ridges, but if desired may consist of a plurality of protuberances or projections from the surface of the replacement bushing adjacent to the Worn surface of the bearing with which the unit is to be employed. Further, the ridges may be formed as a, continuous thread, such as a screw-thread, or may be effected as a series of parallel or equi-distantly spaced annular' rings or the like. In all of the many forms of applying this principle, it is only necessary that deformable projections shall be provided upon the surface of the replacement unit, which projections may be swaged or sheared over as the unit is forced upon the worn bearing surface. For this purpose therefore, the overall diameter of the unit and its deformable projections will necessarily be somewhat greater than the various diameters of the .vorn bearing surfaces, in order that the material of the protuberances fully ll up the cavities and clearances left by the attrition of wear upon the worn surfaces.

For convenience'of illustration, the deiormable ridges have been shown in Figures 58 as hav-` ing sharp edges. However, it will usually be found preferable to form these ridges with a con"l tour approximating that of a sine curve as shown in Figure 9. Thus, the ridges 2Q, whether formed upon the interior or exterior surface of the re placeable sleeve bushing, are provided with rounded peaks 24 spaced by rounded valleys or grooves 26, the proportion and spacing of these elements being so arranged that when the peaks are sheared off there will be space to receive the displaced metal in the valleys. As will readily be understood, as the bushing is forced into or over a worn bearing, the relatively high spots of the Worn bearing surface will roll over or shear off the relatively weak portions of the ridges or peaks 24, and force the displaced metal into the valleys or channels 25, leaving the unsheared parts of the ridges 24 to form a tight press fit with the worn surfaces of' the Worn bearings and in some instances will supplement this engagement by the accumulation of sheared off material retained in the valleys or grooves 26, thereby attaining a firm, secure and uniform engagement of the replaceable bushing throughout the length of the Worn bearing, and this regardless of irregu larities of Wear in the worn bearing surface,

Thus, a replacement sleeve in accordance with the foregoing principles will readily accommodate itself to all inequalities of wear of a worn bearing surface and readily secure a new bearing surface in position Without the necessity for regrinding, rebushing, or otherwise treating the worn surface. Further, it should be noted that a relatively small force is necessary to force the replacement unit into or upon a Worn bearing surface, since the deformable protuberance will yield to repeated light blows as the unit is driven home, -thereby eliminating .the usual deforma- @tion of thesleeve :as :it is driven home.

qlittentiontisnow directed to the application of the-above-features ofthe invention tothe drive `shaft vbushing assembly 4of my prior Patent'No. -2i40\3,520.

Assetzfortli -in said patent, thepropeller shaft of ,anfautom'obile-vehicle, indicated at 28 in Figurel, is conventionallysplined at its forward end as Aat -30 to receivetheinternally splined portion of a luniversal ljoint member indicated generally tionpof the propeller shaft 28 inthe Ajournal 36,

`wear usually develops inthe journal 36 to such an'extent that the Worn surface thereof-Will no longer adequately journal and support the propeller shaft 28 within the housing 38. vIn my prior patent above identified, a unitary bushing replacement assembly was linserted in the for- Ward end of the torque tube 38 for providing a new propeller shaft journal to properly center and-supportthe propeller shaft 28.

This assembly comprises a sleeve 4t having a replacement bushing 42 secured at the inward portion thereoif, this replacement bushing being adapted to engagethe unworn portion of the propeller shaft 28 immediately beyond that portion which was worn together with the cylindrical surface of the journal 35. Suitable packing and oilsealingmeans 44 were disposed Aat the forward eX-tremity of the sleeve 48-and adapted to prevent the ypassage of oil from the differential housing of the vehicle up the torque tube and pass the-replacement journal 42, this being effected by driving-the bushing 4B into endwise engagement-*with the orginal bushing 36. At its other extremity, the replacement sleeve 40 usually carried an enlarged diameter portion 46 adapted to seat vin a corresponding counterbore at the forward eX- tremity of the torque tube. In applying the improvements of the instant invention to this construction, deformable ridges or protuberances 48 and 5U are formed upon the external surface of the sleeve 40 at its inner and outer extremities as shown in Figure 2, and also similarly deformable ridges 52 are provided upon theenlarged portion 46 thereof. As will be readily understood from Figures 1 and 3, the replacement sleeve 40, after removal of the universal joint l32 from the splined end 3D of the propeller shaft, is inserted vand driven into the exterior open end of the Vtorque tube 3B until the saine is seated as shown in `Figure f1. As willbe readily understood in this embodiment of the invention, the deformable ridge areas 48, 50 and 52 will be of slightly greater diameter than the corresponding inner surfaces of the torque tube 38 which they are intended to engage, since these portions of the torque tube are unworn surfaces and will, therefore, receive a sleeve 40 of corresponding uniform diameter. It will thus be seen that the successive deformable ridged portions of the replacement sleeve 40 provide an easily applied and thoroughly reliable fastening means for securing the replaceable bearing member 42 in operative position in the worn propeller shaft housing assembly.

Attention is next directed more specically to the manner of applying the improvements of this .surface of the .member 58.

:inventionato ethefoonstructionof xthe :replacement .of my ..prior'fBatentiNot :2,405,541 fof `flugust .6, 19.46.

)In this modification, :the propeller .shaft 28 is ysplinedfas atr30 ;to.= a:unive1'sal v`joint 3;2 positioned .in a conventional:zbellshousing15.4. Thegforward v`end of the 'torque tubee isocustomarily 4received in longitudinally .slidable position gin a telescopiingsleeve, not shownfwhichfis.swivelly-:mounted -in ythe spherical .end .of :fthe :bell housing v54 and `retained vtherein'by anannulargland 5.6. The `eng-,agement between the :forward ;=end of -the torque .tube f3.3 ,and thefabove mentioned tele- .scoping sleeve, was subj ect '.to zbothireciprocation and-vibration under the normal luse .of the auto- -mo'tiye yehicletresultingfin considerable- Wear between vthe engaging .surface :of zboth torque tube and -telescoping sleeve. In :my above identied application, az-repairzunitzwas providedfor recon- .ditioning these .worn surfaces, without vdismantling the torque :tube from vthe vehicle, by .providing a lpair ofztelescoping sleeve membersf' and `60, lrespectively engaging the vtorque '.tube

worn external surface xand the spherical .seat

Vof said prior patent, `the :interior sleeve `58-1was rigidly ,attached to the `torque 'tube `housing 38 .and-hada snug nttingengagementiwith the un- .worn portion .of the `external surface ,of said torquetuba 'and =had asnug sliding engagement with the external .sleeve ..60 .carried -within :the bell housing 54 in the conventionalmanner. By this means-a renewed journal was establishedibetween the torque tube housingand .fthe bell hous .ing-which restored the partsitotheir original efyiiciency.and.obviated'theclearance'occasioned'by undue yweartherebetween. yFor fa .fuller explanationof the operation of this attachment, atten- .tion is .directed tto my @above :identified patent.

In accordance Awith the principlesof .this invention, the interior sleeve .of this attachment is provided with one or more deformable ridges 62 over a portion or all of the internal cylindrical As will be readily understood, the ridged yportions 62 .which are adapted :to engage .the lunworn portion of the torque tube'38, varef-formed upon the rinternal surface of member 58 which is of'xbutslightly greater diameter than that of Lthe .external surface or torque tube 33; while fthe ridges Aft2 adapted to `engage the wornportionof the torque tube housing 38, will necessarily 'be formed upon the inner circumferenceoia portion of the `,sleeve 58 which is of reduced 'internal diameter, in orderto extend within the worn portions .of the torque tube and compensate for x'the inequities. of wear-"therein By-this means, `a tight .press Lt may be established between the replacementLsleeveand the Ytorque tube 38, *at `one .or `more zones Vupon the exterior surface of l.the latter, to vthereby vprevent he "leakage vof oil or grease 'from the universal joint between the torque tube and the replacenient sleeve, and also to give a firm and rigid fastening engagement between these members.

To further enhance the sealing relation, suitable packing rings 64 and @E are provided in annular channels or grooves within the bore of the sleeve 5S.

The operation of this form of the device is identical with that set forth in my prior patent, together with the improvements effected by my novel fastening means.

Attention is now directed to another embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 10 and 1l, the usefulness of this embodiment being illustrated in connection with an attachment in accordance with my aforementioned Patent No. 2,405,541. In this form of the invention, a worn bearing surface such as the worn end of a torque tube 08 has a sleeve 10 applied thereto in the same manner as described in connection with Figure 4 while a telescoping replacement sleeve 'I2 is secured in the customary bell housing 74 and is slidable upon the sleeve 19. For convenience of illustration, the deformable ridges or threaded protuberances are not shown in Figures 10 and 1l, it being understood that these elements will be used where desired. In accordance with this feature of the invention, an anti-friction bearing means is employed between the sleeves 70 and 72 in order to minimize wear therebetween, and to facilitate their necessary relative movement during the operation of the device in a motor vehicle. Accordingly, the exterior surface of sleeve l is provided with a plurality of annular grooves or race-ways 76 which, if desired, may be formed in hardened surface portions 18'of the sleeve lil and which receive anti-friction rolling elements 80 which may be ball bearings as shown, or if preferred or needle or roller bearing construction. The outer race of this ball bearing or anti-friction bearing assembly is composed of a liner 82 preferably of hard material and which is secured in any suitable manner such for example, as by the deformable ridges aforementioned, in tight fitting engagement within the inner cylindrical surface of the outer sleeve l2.

By the foregoing construction there is provided a replacement bearing assembly which will restore a worn bearing to its original operative condition and is adapted to minimize wear and reduce friction between the bearing surfaces as above set forth. Preferably at the outward end thereof, the outer sleeve member 72 and the liner 82 are provided with internal grooves or channels receiving a sealing element 84 adapted to have sliding and oil seating engagement between the sleeve 72 and the bushing 70.

In order to further prevent leakage of oil or the like through the assembly, and to prevent the ingress of dust, or the like, from detrimentally effecting the anti-friction bearings, a telescoping collapsible housing or casing 86 is provided whose ends are rigidly connected as at 88 and 50 by suitable clamps to the exterior surface of the torque tube 68 and the outer replaceable sleeve clement 72. As will be readily seen from Figure i0, the housing 86 is adapted to have longitudinal movement as the bearing assembly expands or contracts longitudinally.

A somewhat simplified modication of the disclosure of Figure is shown in Figure 12. The torque tube 92 is fitted with a replacement bushing or sleeve 94 as in the preceding embodiment, which likewise may be provided with the deformable fastening ridges above mentioned but not shown, and which has telescoping engagement within an outer sleeve 96 corresponding to the sleeve 12 of Figure 10. In this modification, suitable detachable bearing assemblies 98 which may be ball bearing, needle bearing or roller bearing as preferred, are removably inserted between the telescoping sleeves 94 and 9S. A telescoping collapsible housing |00 having an end secured to the outer sleeve 96 as at |02, is adapted to provide a dust-proof cover for the assembly in the same manner as in Figure 10. This embodiment corresponds to that of Figure 10, except that a simplified and less expensive anti-friction bearing structure is provided between the slidable inner and outer sleeve members.

It should be particularly noted that although the embodiments of Figures 4, 10 and 12 have been illustrated in connection with repairing a worn propeller shaft housing of an automotive vehicle, their principles of construction and operation are equally applicable to various other bearing assemblies whereby they possess the joint .function of replacing worn bearing parts to either their original or a modified diameter, and also introduce the advantages of an anti-friction bearing construction in the replacement unit.

Since various embodiments will readily occur to those skilled in the art it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructions shown and described, but all suitable modifications of vthe principles of the invention may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A repair unit for a propeller shaft housing including a bushing of uniform external diameter engageable upon the worn portion of a propeller shaft housingl fastening means for securing said bushing upon the worn portion of said housing, and a sleeve engageable with a universal joint housing and journaled upon said bushing, said fastening means including internal deformable ridges on said bushing for press t engagement with said propeller shaft housing at a plurality of longitudinally spaced zones thereon.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plurality of longitudinally spaced Zones includes a zone adjacent each end of said bushing and a zone intermediate the ends of said bushing,

THEODORE C. GERNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN'I'ESI Number Name Date 868,875 Latcher Oct. 22, 1907 1,928,841 Morse Oct. 3, 1933 2,147,343 Hokanson Feb. 14, 1939 2,403,520 Gerner July 9, 1946 2,405,541 Gerner r Aug. 6, 1946 

